Comments on: New Teen Drug Epidemic?http://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/
Dr. Phil- Start A Change ReactionSat, 17 May 2014 20:24:42 -0500http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8hourly1By: Kiphttp://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-160761
KipSat, 12 Oct 2013 14:14:58 +0000http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2045#comment-160761Dr. Phil perhaps you should listen to a real Doctor, America's Doctor Sanja Gupta, when he says and quote, "We have been duped". And for anyone who thinks marijuana is the source of their child's mental illness. I suggest you lay the blame where is should be at the feet of your own genetics and our insane civilization.
Cannabis is one of the four oldest plants for the human species to have a relationship with. I am not going to waste my time however educating the willfully ignorant about the why we have the policies on hemp/cannabis that we have today, except to say it had everything to do with paper, plastic, steel and rope and nothing to do with "Reefer Madness", as one moron here suggested.
We are very dumb nation and getting dumber by the day, thank Doc Phil for doing your best to keep the stupid, stupid.
Dr. Phil you are a vile opportunist who feasts and profits off the disease and damaged; feeding to your audience as the most disgusting type of entertainment. You have more in common with Jerry Springer than Jung...Dr. Phil perhaps you should listen to a real Doctor, America’s Doctor Sanja Gupta, when he says and quote, “We have been duped”. And for anyone who thinks marijuana is the source of their child’s mental illness. I suggest you lay the blame where is should be at the feet of your own genetics and our insane civilization.

Cannabis is one of the four oldest plants for the human species to have a relationship with. I am not going to waste my time however educating the willfully ignorant about the why we have the policies on hemp/cannabis that we have today, except to say it had everything to do with paper, plastic, steel and rope and nothing to do with “Reefer Madness”, as one moron here suggested.

We are very dumb nation and getting dumber by the day, thank Doc Phil for doing your best to keep the stupid, stupid.

Dr. Phil you are a vile opportunist who feasts and profits off the disease and damaged; feeding to your audience as the most disgusting type of entertainment. You have more in common with Jerry Springer than Jung…

]]>By: praying4changehttp://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-160713
praying4changeTue, 13 Aug 2013 22:17:29 +0000http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2045#comment-160713My 18 year old son has a major issue with marijuana, the worse part is his denial and addiction and the fact that he doesnt care about how hes hurting his family and putting us in a dangerous position . Im so scared and heartbroken and so exhausted from trying to watch over him and protect him , He is becoming violent and verbally abusive towards me , He tries to completely control our household, I wish I could let go and stop letting this situation control my life , He says its my fault that he does the things he does and acts the way he does , he actually told me its because i failed as a mother cause I should have spanked him more when he was younger. I try to convince myself that hes only trying to pass on his guilt but I still cant help but wonder if it is partly my fault , I try to find other discipline other than spanking my boys, I have two other boys ages 13 and 11 and im so scared that I wont be able to protect them from smoking marijuana , and partying, Im so heartbroken that my oldest refuses to show any love for me unless he wants something or hes in trouble , theres always 8 - 12 extra teenagers laying around in his room and sneaking in and out of my house all times of day and night , Ive begged for respect and for everybody to go away and not come back , Only way I can clear everybody out is too completely flip out and throw a fit and threaten to call 911 , its ridiculous and stressful , and even worse when the very next day my house will become the free hotel again as if Id never said anything about it . My son jumps on me and says im disrespecting his friends and refuses to even speak to me , I need a miracle but something has gotta giveMy 18 year old son has a major issue with marijuana, the worse part is his denial and addiction and the fact that he doesnt care about how hes hurting his family and putting us in a dangerous position . Im so scared and heartbroken and so exhausted from trying to watch over him and protect him , He is becoming violent and verbally abusive towards me , He tries to completely control our household, I wish I could let go and stop letting this situation control my life , He says its my fault that he does the things he does and acts the way he does , he actually told me its because i failed as a mother cause I should have spanked him more when he was younger. I try to convince myself that hes only trying to pass on his guilt but I still cant help but wonder if it is partly my fault , I try to find other discipline other than spanking my boys, I have two other boys ages 13 and 11 and im so scared that I wont be able to protect them from smoking marijuana , and partying, Im so heartbroken that my oldest refuses to show any love for me unless he wants something or hes in trouble , theres always 8 – 12 extra teenagers laying around in his room and sneaking in and out of my house all times of day and night , Ive begged for respect and for everybody to go away and not come back , Only way I can clear everybody out is too completely flip out and throw a fit and threaten to call 911 , its ridiculous and stressful , and even worse when the very next day my house will become the free hotel again as if Id never said anything about it . My son jumps on me and says im disrespecting his friends and refuses to even speak to me , I need a miracle but something has gotta give
]]>By: salvatorehttp://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-74791
salvatoreTue, 06 Dec 2011 13:18:24 +0000http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2045#comment-74791You people need to understand that its not the pot that is the gateway drug. Whats one of the first thing kids try? Take a minute and think about it........... Cigarettes!!!! 9 out of 10 times thats what they try first. I know most of you doubt thats the case but look deep inside yourself and you'll know its true. Im 21, and my dads been smoking all of my life, it was the first thing I tried, then alcohol, then some pills, THEN I TRIED POT!!! And another thing, its the goverments fault that all these kids are trying these hardcore drugs e.g (heroin, crack, cocaine, meth) because they goto these street thugs, and when they dont have pot they offer something else to make some more money.
I have been smoking pot since 10th grade, and I graduated, I still manged to get a job, and yes I went to college. You need to stop blaming a harmless plant and start blaming yourself and your goverment.
I do agree, pot is not for everyone just like sugar isnt for diabetics or aderal isnt for someone who doesnt have add/adhd.
One more thing, I suppourt the legalization of pot, and all other psychedelics!!!
Put yourself in a cancer patients shoes, or someone who is on the verge of dying.
Dont you think they deserve some kind assurance or happiness? Do your research before talking, you dont know everything.You people need to understand that its not the pot that is the gateway drug. Whats one of the first thing kids try? Take a minute and think about it……….. Cigarettes!!!! 9 out of 10 times thats what they try first. I know most of you doubt thats the case but look deep inside yourself and you’ll know its true. Im 21, and my dads been smoking all of my life, it was the first thing I tried, then alcohol, then some pills, THEN I TRIED POT!!! And another thing, its the goverments fault that all these kids are trying these hardcore drugs e.g (heroin, crack, cocaine, meth) because they goto these street thugs, and when they dont have pot they offer something else to make some more money.

I have been smoking pot since 10th grade, and I graduated, I still manged to get a job, and yes I went to college. You need to stop blaming a harmless plant and start blaming yourself and your goverment.

I do agree, pot is not for everyone just like sugar isnt for diabetics or aderal isnt for someone who doesnt have add/adhd.

One more thing, I suppourt the legalization of pot, and all other psychedelics!!!
Put yourself in a cancer patients shoes, or someone who is on the verge of dying.
Dont you think they deserve some kind assurance or happiness? Do your research before talking, you dont know everything.

]]>By: PJhttp://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-48706
PJFri, 28 Oct 2011 01:37:45 +0000http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2045#comment-48706My 21 year old son is addicted to heroin. Anyone who thinks this can not happen in their family is fooling themselves. My son tells me that heroin is becoming a drug of choice in the high school community.
He became addicted to opiates stemming from a visit to the dentist. He tells me that many people he knows become addicted this way, either through an injury or dental procedure.
We are very close and he talks to me about everything to do with his habit. He has been arrested three times and now has a felony on his record. The problem I have with drugs being illegal is the ruining of a young person's life, over a problem created by the medical industry.
Children should not be prescribed opiates, period.
Addicts should not be considered criminals. The amount of money spent on incarcerating these young people should instead go to treatment programs, like the ones on your show, that the average family cannot afford. We are offered crappy clinics, quickie treatment plans, which do not give long term help and court.
Decriminalizing drug abuse and instituting treatment instead would allow the addict to maintain some hope for the future. At 21, my son's future is very bleak, since the chance to obtain future employment with a felony record is slim, at best, in our present economy.
Treatment for addiction is entirely too expensive for most families to afford. Long term inpatient treatment is probably the only route for opiate addiction, but the "affordable" places are frequently booked up for weeks, leaving a family to search on a daily basis for openings.
Please realize that these addicts are people. Someone always loves them, until their addiction and the lack of available treatment leaves them alone and hopeless.
We are currently seeking somewhere to take my son that we can pay for. He is still using and I am afraid I will lose him before we find him a place willing to help.My 21 year old son is addicted to heroin. Anyone who thinks this can not happen in their family is fooling themselves. My son tells me that heroin is becoming a drug of choice in the high school community.

He became addicted to opiates stemming from a visit to the dentist. He tells me that many people he knows become addicted this way, either through an injury or dental procedure.

We are very close and he talks to me about everything to do with his habit. He has been arrested three times and now has a felony on his record. The problem I have with drugs being illegal is the ruining of a young person’s life, over a problem created by the medical industry.

Children should not be prescribed opiates, period.

Addicts should not be considered criminals. The amount of money spent on incarcerating these young people should instead go to treatment programs, like the ones on your show, that the average family cannot afford. We are offered crappy clinics, quickie treatment plans, which do not give long term help and court.

Decriminalizing drug abuse and instituting treatment instead would allow the addict to maintain some hope for the future. At 21, my son’s future is very bleak, since the chance to obtain future employment with a felony record is slim, at best, in our present economy.

Treatment for addiction is entirely too expensive for most families to afford. Long term inpatient treatment is probably the only route for opiate addiction, but the “affordable” places are frequently booked up for weeks, leaving a family to search on a daily basis for openings.

Please realize that these addicts are people. Someone always loves them, until their addiction and the lack of available treatment leaves them alone and hopeless.

We are currently seeking somewhere to take my son that we can pay for. He is still using and I am afraid I will lose him before we find him a place willing to help.

]]>By: marjie nelsonhttp://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-34956
marjie nelsonMon, 26 Sep 2011 20:12:19 +0000http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2045#comment-34956I have a 17 yr old son dx with bipolar (on resperidone and seroquel) that has been in the psy hosp x 2 since april for suicide and manic episodes. Hes also been charged as an adult for MIP of tobacco/pot/alcohol, was caught in school drinking and selling pot. After the 1st hosp he came home depressed and seemed that way x 4 months, about 4wks ago, and the meds had been increased he seemed happier. We found out he was using spice since we took everything away and he couldn't get anything he became manic, and is currently back in the hosp. The problem is we can't take care of him because he doesn't care if he dies or goes to jail, just wants to be left alone to smoke. His PO won't let him out of the state of MI and there is no place in MI that has a dual diagnosis and is inpatient and he will not go voluntarily. I'm afraid/know he will end up dead or in jail if he doesn't get some long term help.I have a 17 yr old son dx with bipolar (on resperidone and seroquel) that has been in the psy hosp x 2 since april for suicide and manic episodes. Hes also been charged as an adult for MIP of tobacco/pot/alcohol, was caught in school drinking and selling pot. After the 1st hosp he came home depressed and seemed that way x 4 months, about 4wks ago, and the meds had been increased he seemed happier. We found out he was using spice since we took everything away and he couldn’t get anything he became manic, and is currently back in the hosp. The problem is we can’t take care of him because he doesn’t care if he dies or goes to jail, just wants to be left alone to smoke. His PO won’t let him out of the state of MI and there is no place in MI that has a dual diagnosis and is inpatient and he will not go voluntarily. I’m afraid/know he will end up dead or in jail if he doesn’t get some long term help.
]]>By: Isabella Vigilhttp://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-22731
Isabella VigilWed, 15 Jun 2011 21:18:59 +0000http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2045#comment-22731Dr. Phil, I don't even know where to begin on the subject of drugs. My 18 year old son is addicted to heroine, not marijuana, not prescription drugs, but heroine. I have to believe that this is the worst drug to be addicted to and it has become the drug of choice in our city. My husband and I have tried everything, from taking him to the emergency room, sending him for 10 days to detox, calling and scheduling appts. at rehabilitation centers and he keeps going back to it and refuses to get help. It's killing me and my family, but sadly enough, it's either going to kill him soon or he is going to end up in prison. We as a family have finally decided that tough love is what's going to have to happen. We have to go on with our lives, and stop blaming ourselves for what he has become. Any advice would be appreciated.Dr. Phil, I don’t even know where to begin on the subject of drugs. My 18 year old son is addicted to heroine, not marijuana, not prescription drugs, but heroine. I have to believe that this is the worst drug to be addicted to and it has become the drug of choice in our city. My husband and I have tried everything, from taking him to the emergency room, sending him for 10 days to detox, calling and scheduling appts. at rehabilitation centers and he keeps going back to it and refuses to get help. It’s killing me and my family, but sadly enough, it’s either going to kill him soon or he is going to end up in prison. We as a family have finally decided that tough love is what’s going to have to happen. We have to go on with our lives, and stop blaming ourselves for what he has become. Any advice would be appreciated.
]]>By: Charissa Wallerhttp://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-22628
Charissa WallerWed, 08 Jun 2011 22:37:07 +0000http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2045#comment-22628The answer to this question is something I ask myself often. I am a mother of an 8 yr od girl, and a 5 year old little boy. I am also a mother that has suffered from prescription drug addiction.
I have been in a program for 5 years, and in there I learned that addiction is spiritual in nature. It was my root problem...addiction was just the symptom.
It is imperative that we give our children something to believe in. Someone or something to fill that void that we all have been born with. If they cant find something pure to fill it with, they will grasp desperately at ANYTHING.
I make sure my kids are safe and fed. That is physical. I make sure I ask them how they feel, and shower them with love. That is emotional. I problem solve with them, and help filter things they are not ready to understand. They also go to a counselor for things they need more help with than I can give. That is psychological. But if I do all those things, and leave out their spiritual health, then I have failed as a parent.
I think most parents lack in this area themselves, so they dont know how to incorporate spiritual things into their children's lives. Still others dont teach anything to keep from "messing" up or dont want to seem radical to outsiders.
Here is the thing....our children need moral compasses. They need to know that there is something out there that is more powerful than themselves. And since we have taken prayer and moral codes out of our schools, we have to make sure we do this at home.
If we want our kids to win the battle against drugs, then we are going to have to give them tools to fight with. We are sending them into the battlefield unarmed and vulnerable. Its no wonder we are losing so many of them to this awful disease! Much love!The answer to this question is something I ask myself often. I am a mother of an 8 yr od girl, and a 5 year old little boy. I am also a mother that has suffered from prescription drug addiction.
I have been in a program for 5 years, and in there I learned that addiction is spiritual in nature. It was my root problem…addiction was just the symptom.
It is imperative that we give our children something to believe in. Someone or something to fill that void that we all have been born with. If they cant find something pure to fill it with, they will grasp desperately at ANYTHING.
I make sure my kids are safe and fed. That is physical. I make sure I ask them how they feel, and shower them with love. That is emotional. I problem solve with them, and help filter things they are not ready to understand. They also go to a counselor for things they need more help with than I can give. That is psychological. But if I do all those things, and leave out their spiritual health, then I have failed as a parent.
I think most parents lack in this area themselves, so they dont know how to incorporate spiritual things into their children’s lives. Still others dont teach anything to keep from “messing” up or dont want to seem radical to outsiders.
Here is the thing….our children need moral compasses. They need to know that there is something out there that is more powerful than themselves. And since we have taken prayer and moral codes out of our schools, we have to make sure we do this at home.
If we want our kids to win the battle against drugs, then we are going to have to give them tools to fight with. We are sending them into the battlefield unarmed and vulnerable. Its no wonder we are losing so many of them to this awful disease! Much love!
]]>By: marniehttp://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-22624
marnieWed, 08 Jun 2011 14:47:36 +0000http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2045#comment-22624i have 2 daughters addicted to heroine. this is the single most excruciating, horrific, and devastating disease. We have been through countless programs including; counseling, rehabs, mental institutions. my oldest daughter became pregnant and was prescribed methadone. I am mortified that anyone on this planet would ever consider this a form of recovery. my grandson suffered withdrawals and was in nic/u for one month. my daughter still nodded out while she was on it. the only difference between heroine and methadone is that one is legal and one is not. once they started weening her off of it, she went straight back to using heroine again. heroine, methadone, suboxone, is all the same.
my youngest daughter is now in jail on felony drug related charges. she had just spent 8months in intensive inpatient treatment. she was back out using within a week of her release and in jail within the same month. this has been almost 10 years battling this addiction with my children. i have a serious gut feeling that we are at the end of the road. My children are now facing the ultimate choice, life or death. i am quickly learning that i dont even a say in any of it.
i am beginning to realize that THERE IS NO CURE. there is no amount of begging, pleading, manipulating, fighting, talking, or praying our way out of this nightmare. this may sound cruel, but at this point in my children's addiction i can only save what is left of my own life. my children have had every opportunity and outlet to recieve all the help they could ever want. they have refused.
after all this time i can honestly say that i am completely without hope that they will ever recover. when hope is all i once had to guide me through this. i am preparing myself for the worst. completely letting them go is my last ditch effort to save my children, my grandson, as well as myself.i have 2 daughters addicted to heroine. this is the single most excruciating, horrific, and devastating disease. We have been through countless programs including; counseling, rehabs, mental institutions. my oldest daughter became pregnant and was prescribed methadone. I am mortified that anyone on this planet would ever consider this a form of recovery. my grandson suffered withdrawals and was in nic/u for one month. my daughter still nodded out while she was on it. the only difference between heroine and methadone is that one is legal and one is not. once they started weening her off of it, she went straight back to using heroine again. heroine, methadone, suboxone, is all the same.
my youngest daughter is now in jail on felony drug related charges. she had just spent 8months in intensive inpatient treatment. she was back out using within a week of her release and in jail within the same month. this has been almost 10 years battling this addiction with my children. i have a serious gut feeling that we are at the end of the road. My children are now facing the ultimate choice, life or death. i am quickly learning that i dont even a say in any of it.
i am beginning to realize that THERE IS NO CURE. there is no amount of begging, pleading, manipulating, fighting, talking, or praying our way out of this nightmare. this may sound cruel, but at this point in my children’s addiction i can only save what is left of my own life. my children have had every opportunity and outlet to recieve all the help they could ever want. they have refused.
after all this time i can honestly say that i am completely without hope that they will ever recover. when hope is all i once had to guide me through this. i am preparing myself for the worst. completely letting them go is my last ditch effort to save my children, my grandson, as well as myself.
]]>By: C STEWARThttp://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-21648
C STEWARTThu, 14 Apr 2011 16:52:39 +0000http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2045#comment-21648This is a heartbreaking situation as I have had first hand experience with this. Both my older kids, (19 and 18) believe that marijuana is not harmful - it is a herb... their father (we are divorced) has been a habitual smoker since his teens and both kids are aware of this. I completely believe in marijuana being the gateway drug and I believe this generation of kids is so busy numbing themselves from the realities of growing up, that they abuse drugs not only as recreation, but as a substitute for the natural good feelings that they don't know how to achieve because of their lives of excess. I am deeply saddened that our teenagers of today do not know how to appreciate the simplest things in life. Because of drugs, (which escalated to heroin), my son has ended up on probation, in prison for six months, rehab for 60 days and is now on a tether for 6 months. He is angry at the world and us and thinks we should still pay for his mistakes. My daughter is an 18 year old with an 19 month old son, trying to get her GED in between hanging out with her friends, partying, drinking and smoking pot. To top it off, legalizing medical marijuana is a mistake in a generation where drugs are running rampant and stealing our youth of their childhoods. It sends them a very mixed message. DRUGS have devastated our family... short of a terminal illness.. this is the most horrific thing a family can go through. I am at the end of my rope trying to figure out how to help these children... did we make mistakes as parents, sure, but so did my parents - and thank God I didn't resort to drugs. I would be happy to start a group like MADD - I am lost as to where to start with such an epidemic, but our children are being lost.This is a heartbreaking situation as I have had first hand experience with this. Both my older kids, (19 and 18) believe that marijuana is not harmful – it is a herb… their father (we are divorced) has been a habitual smoker since his teens and both kids are aware of this. I completely believe in marijuana being the gateway drug and I believe this generation of kids is so busy numbing themselves from the realities of growing up, that they abuse drugs not only as recreation, but as a substitute for the natural good feelings that they don’t know how to achieve because of their lives of excess. I am deeply saddened that our teenagers of today do not know how to appreciate the simplest things in life. Because of drugs, (which escalated to heroin), my son has ended up on probation, in prison for six months, rehab for 60 days and is now on a tether for 6 months. He is angry at the world and us and thinks we should still pay for his mistakes. My daughter is an 18 year old with an 19 month old son, trying to get her GED in between hanging out with her friends, partying, drinking and smoking pot. To top it off, legalizing medical marijuana is a mistake in a generation where drugs are running rampant and stealing our youth of their childhoods. It sends them a very mixed message. DRUGS have devastated our family… short of a terminal illness.. this is the most horrific thing a family can go through. I am at the end of my rope trying to figure out how to help these children… did we make mistakes as parents, sure, but so did my parents – and thank God I didn’t resort to drugs. I would be happy to start a group like MADD – I am lost as to where to start with such an epidemic, but our children are being lost.
]]>By: Debbie Wickerhttp://blog.drphil.com/2009/12/15/are-we-seeing-a-new-teen-drug-epidemic/comment-page-2/#comment-18498
Debbie WickerWed, 03 Nov 2010 21:13:21 +0000http://blog.drphil.com/?p=2045#comment-18498I believe that drug dealers and drug gangs are actuallymarketing drugs to kids and using social media and other public relations techniques to promote drugs. They start by telling them that pot isn't bad for you, then they get them using pot regularly and then move them to pills and ultimately heroin. They want addicted customers to make the most money.
Kids are falling for the scam, so sad!I believe that drug dealers and drug gangs are actuallymarketing drugs to kids and using social media and other public relations techniques to promote drugs. They start by telling them that pot isn’t bad for you, then they get them using pot regularly and then move them to pills and ultimately heroin. They want addicted customers to make the most money.